Collapsible reels



Nov. 8, 1966 s. l.. Ell-RID COLLAPSIBLE REELS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 26J 1963 Nov. 8, 1966 s. L.. EIFRID COLLAPSIBLE REELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1963 Nov. 8, 1966 s. L. Elf-RID 3,284,022

CGLLAPS IBLE REELS Filed Nov. 26, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 yy' .f5

75 o v 1 H1 Il E! Nov. 8, 1966 s. L. ElFRlD COLLAPSIBLE REELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 26. 1963 ,ZW w/ United States Patent O 3,284,022 CGLLAPSIBLE REELS Stephen L. Eifrid, 641 61st Place, La Grange, Ill. Filed Nov. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 326,056 12 Claims. (Cl. M12-118.8)

This invention relates generally to reels for holding wire, rope or similar materials and more particularly to such a reel formed of paperboard or corrugated cardboard and having end flanges projecting radially and outwardly from a central core or hub.

The primary object of the invention is -to provide a novel reel of the above character which is made up of inexpensive and easily formed parts, which occupies little space while being shipped in an unassembled condition, and which may be prepared to receive materials quickly and with little effort by the ultimate user.

Another object of this invention is to construct the core in a novel manner enabling the reelto be assembled partially by the manufacturer and shipped to the user in that condition thereby reducing the time and labor required by the user in completing the assembly of the reel.

A more detailed object is to provide a core which is formed from individual members attached to the end flanges and which can be folded fiat without detaching the core members from the flanges.

Another more detailed object is to form the individual core members as overlapping parts radiating from and integral with the respective flanges and folded in a novel manner enabling the reel to be partially assembled and shipped flat in this condition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of an assembled reel embodying the novel features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of -a blank for one part of the preferred form of reel;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a blank for another part of the preferred form of the reel;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a partially assembled reel folded flat;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a reel showing `a reinforcing strip wound around the core of the reel;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the core of the preferred form of the reel;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the line S-S of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a perspective View of a modified form of an assembled reel;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a blank from which the modified reel is formed;

FIG. 1l is an elevational view of the modified reel partially assembled and folded flat;

FIG. l2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the core of the modified reel;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another modified form of an assembled reel;

FIG. 16 is la top plan view of the reel of FIG. 15; FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the reel of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 17;

3,284,022 Patented Nov. 8, 1966 ice FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the reel in a partially collapsed position;

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of the reel in a collapsed position;

FIG. 22 is a plan view of a blank for one of the parts which form the core of the reel;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a third modified form of an assembled reel;

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the reel of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a side elevational view of the reel in a partially `assembled condition;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 26-26 of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a side elevational view of the reel in a partially collapsed position;

FIG. 28 is a side elevational view of the reel in a collapsed position; and

FIG. 29 is a plan view of a blank for one of the parts which forms the core of the reel.

The invention is shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration embodied in a reel .20 which is especially adapted for storing and dispensing wire 21 or other similar materials. In general, a reel of this type has a hollow hub or core 22 around which the wire is wound and flat end walls or flanges 23 and 24 which extend radially and outwardly from the ends of the core to preventslippageof the wire off the ends of the core.

In accordance with the present invention, the reel parts are constructed in a novel manner so that they may be partially assembled and shipped in a flattened condithese flat strips have only a single thickness along theirlines of folding.

In the forms of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 and FIGS. 9 to 14, respectively, the separate core strips are a series of elongated fingers 26 and 31 formed integral at one end with the flanges 23 and 24 and extending inwardly therefrom into overlapping relation with each other between the flanges where they are secured together. Heretofore, reels of this type have been assembled from flat pieces of a suitable material such as corrugated carboard cut in the shape of annular rings forming the flanges with the fingers 26 and 31 extending radially and inwardly from the inner peripheries of the rings. To join the rings in spaced relationship to form the reel, the fingers of each ring were bent at right angles to the plane of the ring and attached as by glue or staples to overlapping parts of the similarly bent fingers of the other ring. This resulted in a relatively rigid reel having a hollow core with flat end flanges. Ordinarily, the two pieces of cardboard were shipped to the user flat and disconnected from each other so that, in order to assemble a reel, the user was required to fold the fingers of each piece out of the plane of each ring and secure them in overlapping relation with the fingers of the other ring.

In the partial assembly of the reel shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the fingers 26 and 31 first are bent toward each other from their rings 23 and 24 and are secured together in overlapping relation by the manufacturer to form the strips connecting the rings. Then, the strips are folded transversely both at their junctures with the rings and intermediate their ends in a central plane disposed between and parallel to the rings. The reel is shipped to the user in this flattened patrially assembled condition and, when it is to be used, the rings or flanges are pulled apart by the user to spaced positions in which the over lapping lingers are unfolded. The flanges are retained in such spaced positions and the reel assembly is completed by winding a strip 38 ofV reinforcing material around the outer sides of the overlapping fingers to form a tube extending between the flanges 23 and 24.

In order to facilitate the folding of the overlapping fingers 26 and 31 while still achieving a rigid core 22 in the finally assembled reel, there is only a single thickness of material along any line of folding. For this purpose, at least one of each pair of overlapping lingers is shorter than the other and extends from its ring or llange 23 or 24 to a line short of the central plane in which the fingers are folded. The other lingers of the pairs then extend beyond the central plane but short of the opposite flange. The folding is facilitated further by scoring the fiingers along the desired lines of folding both at the juncture between each finger and its integral ring and in or adjacent the central plane. In the preferred construction of FIGS. 1 to 8, all of the short fingers 26 are formed on the same ring 23 and the longer lingers 31 all are formed on the other ring 24 in order to simplify the securing of the lingers together.

Referring to FIGS. l to 8, the shorter liingers 26 are arranged in an annular series around the inner periphery of their integral supporting ring 23 and are formed with the ring as a part of a flat bank 25 (FIG. 2). These fingers are joined to the ring along score lines 27 which define their bases, are separated from each other by radial cut lines 2S and terminate in straight lines 29 which define the tips of the fingers. In the partial assembly of the reel, the fingers 26 are bent along their base score lines 27 to extend at right angles to the plane of the ring 23.

The other piece or blank 30 of corrugated paper which has the same inner and outer diameters as the flange 23 forms the annular end wall or flange 24 of the reel. This blank includes the longer fingers 31 which are arranged in a series around the inner periphery of the flange. These longer lingers are joined integrally to the inner periphery of the ring 24 by score lines 32 which define the bases of the fingers. Radial lines 33 define the sides of the lingers, and cut lines 34 which are parallel to the base lines define the tips of the fingers.

The longer fingers 31 are foldable along the base score lines 32 to project at right angles to the plane of the ring 24. These lingers also have pairs of score lines 35 positioned intermediate the base score lines 32 and the tips 34 and extending parallel to each other and to the base score lines. The intermediate score lines 35 divide the fingers 31 into tip portions 37, base portions 37a and intermediate portions 36; the intermediate portions being located between the score lines 35. These intermediate score lines are disposed adjacent the central plane between the flanges and are spaced from the base score lines 32 of the fingers so that the length or height of a base portion 37a of a linger 31 is slightly greater than the length or height of a finger 26 of the ring 23. The tip portion 37 is formed with a height less than that f a finger 26.

This construction of the fingers 26 and 31 facilitates partial assembly of the reel with the core in a folded or flattened condition. The reel is easily and accurately assembled by placing the blank 25 concentrically on top of the blank 30 with the shorter lingers 26 of the top blank 25 aligned with the longer lingers 31 of the bottom blank 30.- their inner and outer perimeters will be aligned and the longer fingers extend radially and inwardly beyond the tips 29 of the shorter lingers. Since the base portion With the blanks positioned in this manner,l

shorter linger.

37a of each longer linger is slightly longer .than each shorter finger, the score lines 35 of the longer fingers are also positioned inwardly ofthe tips 29 of the shorter fingers. Thus, each longer'linger can be folded along the lines 35 into the shape of a U (FIG. 8) with its tip portion 37 reversely folded against the shorter finger and its intermediate portion 36 forming the base of the U and being positioned adjacent the end edge 29 of the Since the tip portions 37 of the longer fingers are not as long as the shorter fingers, they will not overlap the base score lines 27 of the shorter fingers when reversely folded and thus there will only be a single thickness of material along any line of folding of the core.

The tip portions 37 of `the longer lingers 31 are secured to the shorter fingers 26 in a suitable manner as by adhesive applied either to the shorter lingers or to the longer tip portions. After such application, the tip portions are pressed into contact with the 4shorter lfingers to adhere in the manner shown in FIGURE 4. When the adhesive has set, the reel is ready for shipment or use.

The user who .receives la reel in this flattened or folded condition can easily prepare it for the-reception of wire simply by moving the dlanges 23 and 24 apart and wrapping the strip 38 of corrugated paper around the core. `Movement of the flanges away from eaoh other will cause all of the lingers 26 and 3-1 t-o bend along their lines of juncture with their respective flanges and the longer lingers 31 to unbend along the intermediate score .lines 35 until the fingers are fully extended at right angles to the end walls.' In this position, the lingers 26 and 31 form the hollow hub or core for the reel as shown in FIGURE l. When the reel is lin its fully extended posi-tion, as `shown in FIGS. 1 Iand 5, the flanges 23 and 24 will be spaced vapart a distance equal to approximately twice the height of a base portion 37a of finger 31. Thus, the length of :the core can be regulated simply by controlling the length or height of the base portion of the finger 31.

The strip 38 of corrugated paperboard which is wound around the exterior of the finger-s between the flanges 23 and 24 forms a tube which prevents the reel from returning -to its collapsed state and also strengthens Athe reel. The strip preferably is at least as long as the circumference of the inner peripheries of the rings at the bases of the 4lingers so that it Wil-l wrap around the core at least once. Also, the strip has a width equal to the length of the core so that it will -act as a spacer to engage the inner sides of the flanges 23 land 24 to maintain the flanges in spaced relation with the lingers -in their fully extended position. It desired, adhesive may be applied to two overlapping end portions of the reinforcing strip to lhold it in position around the core, but this usually will not be necessary beca-use the pressure exerted by the end flanges will normally Ih-old the strip in place until the wire 21 or other material is wound a-round the reel.

Instead of forming all of the shorter fingers on one blank, each blank may have both long and short fingers so that the two blanks are of the same construction. Such a modified form of reel 40 is shown in FIGURES 9 through 14 of the drawings. In this modified for-m, eaoh of the blanks 45 is in the shape of an annular ring or flange 43 having a series of fingers 46 and 50 positioned completely around the inner periphery of the ring and extending radially and inwardly from this periphery. As indicated above, each -ring has two sizes of lingers which are arranged in av series around the ring with 'adjacent fingers of diffe-rent sizes and alternate lingers of the same size. The shorter fingers 46 are connected to the annular ring 43 along score lines 47 which also define the bases of the fingers. The sides of these fingers are defined by cut lines 48 which extend radially of the annular ring 43. The inward edges or tips of these fingers are defined by cut lines 49 which Iare parallel to the base fold llines 47 of the lingers.

The .longer fingers 50 are divided into three portions. The first or base portions 51 Aare attached to the annular ring 43 by score lines 52 which form the bases of the fingers. Cut -lines 53, extending radially of the ring, define the sides of `the fingers and score lines 54, which parallel the base score lines 52, define the inward edges of the first portions. The score lines 54 are spaced the same distance from the inner perimeter of the annular ring as the tip -lines 49 of the shorter fingers 46. Thus, the first portions S1 of the longe-r lingers are the same size and shape as the short fingers 46. Additional score lines 5S are located radially inwardly of and `generally parallel to the lfirst score ylines 54 to define second or connecting portions 56 of the fingers 50. These :connecting portions join the first portions 51 to the third or tip portions 57 of these fingers. The tip portion-s 57 are located radially and inwardly of the portions 51 and 56. The score lines 54 and 55 are spaced a sufficient distance apart to .permit the -connecting portions 56 to extend across the ends of the shorter fingers when the tip portions 57 are reversely folded over the shorter fingers 46, as shown in FIGURE 12. The tip portions of Ithe longer lingers have diverging sides 59 which extend from the score lines 55 to intersect the diverging sides of the adjacent longer fingers as shown in FIGURE 10. These dive-rging sides also align with the sides 48 of the shorter fingers 46 when the tip portions 57 overlap the shorter fingers, as shown in FIGURE 13. The radially and inwardly extending ends of the tip portions of the longer fingers are defined by convex curvilinear cut -li-nes 69 which extend between the Isides 59.

The modified form of the reel is also intended to be assembled by the manufacturer and shipped to the user in the fiattened condition. In such assembly, one blank 45 is placed on top of another blank 45 with :the flanges 43 arranged concentrically and the longer fingers 59 of one ring aligned with the shorter fingers 46 of the opposite ring. When the fingers of the rings are aligned in this manner, the tip portions 57 yand the connecting portions 56 of the longer ngers will be positioned radially inwardly of the tips of the shorter fingers so that the longer fingers can be reversely folded over and fastened to the shorter fingers in the same manner as previously described for the other construction. To facilitate such folding, the longer fingers of the top ring are temporarily bent away from the bottom ring so that the longer fingers of the bottom ring can be folded over the `shorter fingers of the top ring. With t'he longer fingers of the bottom ring thus folded out of the way, the longer fingers of the top ring can be -reversely folded over the shorter fingers of the bottom ring.

Since the base portions 51 of the lon-ger ngers have the same length as the shorter fingers 46, the intermediate portions 56 of the-se longer fingers will fit across the ends 49 of the shorter fingers, as shown in FIG, 12, and allow the tip portions 57 of the longer fingers to overlap and lie against the shorter fingers where they are secured together as by a suitable adhesive. The final assembly of the modified reel is the same as in the case of the preferred construction of FIGS. l to S.

Instead of being formed from fingers integral with and projecting into overlapping relation from the fianges, the core strips may be individual, elongated parts spanning and secured at opposite ends to the reel iianges in a suitable manner as by adhesive. This construction is shown in two other modifications of FIGS. to 22 and FIGS. 23 to 28, respectively. Referring to FIGS. 15 to 22, there are four such strips 71 angularly spaced equal distances around the core. Each strip includes a central portion 73 which is of elongated rectangular shape with end tabs 75. These extend through openings 80 in the end flanges 72 of the reel and lie fiat against and are secured to the outer sides of the flanges.

j To permit collapse of the partially assembled reel with the modified strips 71, the strips are foldable both along their lines of juncture 76 with the end flanges 72 and along lines 78 lying in a medium plane 'between the end flanges. When the flanges are pushed together, the strips will bend along the median lines and along the junction lines and each strip will fold over itself between the end flanges, as shown in FIG. 19. The reel is shipped and stored in the completely flattened condition shown in FIG. 21.

The flattened reel of the modification of FIG. 21 is made ready for use 'by moving the end iianges 72 apart until the strips 71 are fully extended to form the framework of the reel core. To prevent the strips from folding and to reinforce the core, a strip 81 of the reinforcing material is wound `around the core framework to form the outer wall or skin of the core.

Instead of constructing the core with an inner framework of connecting .strips and an outer reinforcing skin as described above, the connected strips 71 may be modified so that they form a rigid core without Ia reinforcing strip 81. To accomplish this purpose, side liaps 74, are attached to the center portion of each strip and are foldable out of the planes of the center portions 73 to form stifteners to prevent folding of the strips. These flaps, when folded out of the planes of their center portion, may be utilized to form walls of a core of polygonal cross section. While only a single fiap attached to each strip would be necessary for this purpose, it has been found desirable to provide a fiap on each side of the center portion of the strip so that the flaps of alternate strips can be overlapped to make the core stronger. The core is also made more resistant to collapse if at least one of the fiaps on each strip is made wide enough to `Contact the center portion of the adjacent strip when this iiap is folded.

A typical strip adaptable for this purpose is shown in FIG. 22. The wider fiap 74h has the same width as the center portion 73 so that it will contact t'he center portion of an adjacent lstrip when folded, while the other flap 74 is narrower than Athe center portion. The flaps are connected to the center portion of the strip by score lines 77 and are foldable along these lines. When the fiaps 74 and 74]) are bent along the score lines 77 and out of the planes of the center portions with the narrow flaps overlapped on their outer sides by the wider iiaps of adjacent strips, they form a core of octagonal cross section, as shown in FIG. 18. When the yside flaps are thus bent out of the planes of the center portions of the strips, the end edges 74a engage the flanges 72 and prevent folding of the strips along the median fold lines 78 and end fold lines 76. If desired, the overlapping fiaps can be afiixed to each other iby adhesive or fasteners, such as staples, to form -a permanent core. However, the pressure of the flanges will normally hold the flaps in place until the wire or other material is wound around the core.

The modified core of FIGS. 15 to 22 can 'be collapse simply by bending the fiaps '74 and 74h back into the plane of their center portion 73 and then pushing the end fianges 77 together. To enable the flaps to fold easily when positioned in the plane of the center portion, the median score lines 78 of the center portions are continued through the side fiaps. When the flanges are pushed together, the strips will fold along the median score lines and along the score lines 76 at the lines lof juncture of the strips with the flanges and will fold over themselves lbetween the end flanges. When the reel is in the folded condition of FIG. 21, it is ready for storage or shipment.

A reel constructed of strips without side fiaps is shown in FIGS. 23 to 29 and the parts of this reel which are similar to those of the previously described reel bear the same number with a prime mark. This reel is assembled and used in the same manner as the modified form of FIGS. 15 to 22 heretofore described but with the addition of an elongated reinforcing strip 81 wound around the score strips 71 to hold the fianges 72 apart and com* plete the core of the reel.

I claim:

1. A reel having a tubular core and annular ring shaped fianges extending radially and outwardly from each end of the core, the core being formed from fingers of longer and shorter lengths extending from the inner peripheries of the annular rings, the longer fingers of each ring being connected to the shorter fingers of the other ring in an overlapping manner and the shorter fingers extending less than one-half the distance between the flanges, and all of said fingers being foldable along lines of connection of the fingers with their respective fianges and the longer fingers having fold lines in a median plane between the fianges to allow with fianges to be moved together as the fingers of both lengths bend along said lines of connection.

2. A cardboard reel adapted to be assembled in a folded condition, said reel comprising first and second annular rings having a plurality of fingers arranged in a series around their inner peripheries and extending radially and inwardly therefrom with the fingers of one ring longer than and aligned with the fingers of the other ring when the rings are placed on top of one another concentrically, the tip portions of the longer fingers overlayying .and being attached to the shorter fingers to connect the rings and all of said fingers being bendable along their respective lines of connection with the rings to extend at right angles to the rings and form a hollow core for said reel as said rings are moved away from each other, and said longer fingers having fold lines in a median plane between said rings to permit movement of the rings toward each other.

3. A collapsible paperboard reel adapted to be assembled in a collapsed or flattened condition, said reel comprising a pair of fiat annular rings of the same inner and outer diameters, a plurality of fingers connected to and extending radially and inwardly from the inner periphery of each ring and having alternately longer and shorter lengths around said periphery, said longer fingers being divided into first portions attached to the associated ring and having lengths at least as great as the lengths of the shorter fingers, outer end portions, and intermediate portions connecting the first portions and the outer ed portions, said outer end portions of said fingers of each ring being aligned with, overlapping and secured to said shorter fingers of the other ring and said intermediate portions of the longer fingers being extended across the outer ends of the shorter fingers when the rings are against each other in concentric faces to face relationship, said longer fingers having fold lines in a median plane between said rings to permit movement of the rings `toward each other.

4. A reel comprising two fiat annular rings spaced apart along a common axis, a plurality of fingers secured to the inner periphery of each ring and extending therefrom toward the opposite ring in parallel with said axis, half of said fingers being no longer than one-half the distance between said rings and the remaining fingers being longer than one-half the distance between the rings and secured in overlapping relation to the shorter fingers of the opposite ring to form a hollow core connecting said rings, each of said fingers being foldable along a line of junction of the finger with its associated ring and each longer finger having a fold line along the intersection of the longer fingers and a median plane between the rings to permit said rings to be moved along said axis into contact with each other.

5. A reel comprisig a hollow core7 two fiat fianges projecting radially and 'outwardly from the core which can be collapsed to permit the fianges to be moved toward each other, said flanges including openings therein, said core having a plurality of fiat strips extending through said openings and secured at opposite ends to said flanges along straight fold lines and disconnected from each other throughout their lengths between the flanges, and each of said strips having intermediate fold lines between their ends in a plane equidistant from the fianges to permit collapse of the core, and a spacer and reinforcing strip wound around the outer side of said core and engaging the inner sides of said end walls to maintain the end walls in spaced relation vand thereby prevent collapse of the core, the width of said strip being equal -to the unfolded lengths of said fiat strips between said straight fold lines.

6. A reel formed of cardboard having end walls spaced along a common axis, a plurality of fiat elongated panels attached to and extending between said end walls and spaced around said common axis, said panels being foldable along lines adjoining said end walls and in a median plane between the end walls to permit the panels to fold over themselves and between the end walls as the end walls are moved together, at least one fiap attached to each panel and foldable along an edge of the panel extending between the end walls with the fiap positioned in the plane of and extending laterally of the panel, each or" said flaps being foldable along said edge and out of the plane of its panel to form a stifener which resists folding of its panel along said median plane.

7. A reel of the type described in claim 6 in which said flaps extend laterally of said panels throughout the length of the panels between the end walls and have edges which engage the end walls to prevent bending of the panels when the fiaps are folded out of the planes of their respective panels.

8. A reel of the type ldescribed in claim 7 in which each fiap extends a sufficient distance laterally of its panel to engage the adjacent panel to form a core of polygonal cross section when the fiaps are bent out of the planes of their respective panels and toward the common axis.

9. A reel of the type described in claim 6 in which a flap is attached to each edge of each panel extending between the end walls of the reel and the flap on one of the edges of a panel is wider than the fiap on the opposite edge with each of the wider fiaps extending a sufiicient distance laterally of its panel to engage an adjacent panel when bent out of the plane of its panel and each of the narrower panels extending an insufficient distance laterally of its panel to engage an adjacent panel when bent out of the plane of its panel, the core of said reel being formed by folding the wide flap of each panel over the narrower fiap of an adjoining panel to form a tubular core of polygonal cross section.

10. The combination of claim 1 in which a fiat spacer strip is removably wound around the outside of said fingers and engages the inner sides of said flanges to hold the fianges in spaced relation with the fingers unfolded.

11. The combination of claim 2 in which a fiat sp-acer strip is removably Wound around the outside of said fingers and engages the inner sides of said rings t0 hold the rings in spaced relation with the fingers unfolded.

12. The combination of claim 4 in which a fiat spacer strip is removably wound around the outside of said fingers and engages the inner sides of said rings to hold the rings in spacer relation with the fingers unfolded.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,222,011 12/1965 Webb 242-1188 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,096,469 2/1955 France.

467,787 6/ 1937 Great Britain. 589,990 7/ 1947 Great Britain. 799,989 8/1958 Great Britain.

FRANK I. COHEN, Prmmy Examiner. GEORGE F. MAUTZ, Examiner. 

1. REAL HAVING A TUBULAR CORE AND ANNULAR RING SHAPED FLANGES EXTENDING RADIALLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM EACH END OF THE CORE, THE CORE BEING FORMED FROM FINGERS OF LONGER AND SHORTER LENGTHS EXTENDING FROM THE INNER PERIPHERIES OF THE ANNULAR RINGS, THE LONGER FINGERS OF EACH RING BEING CONNECTED TO THE SHORTER FINGERS OF THE OTHER RING IN AN OVERLAPPING MANNER AND THE SHORTER FINGERS EXTENDING LESS THAN ONE-HALF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FLANGES, AND ALL OF SAID FINGERS BEING FOLDABLE ALONG LINES OF CONNECTION OF THE FINGERS WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE FLANGES AND THE LONGER FINGERS HAVING FOLD LINES IN A MEDIAN PLANE BETWEEN THE FLANGES TO ALLOW WITH FLANGES TO BE MOVED TOGETHER AS THE FINGERS OF BOTH LENGTHS BEND ALONG SAID LINES OF CONNECTION. 